Start up:

Start up is a Company that has been in existence for less than five years and with sales revenues not exceeding Rs 25 crore

Apart from innovation, such startups will be expected to be engaged in the development, deployment or commercialisation of new products, processes or services driven by technology or intellectual property.

Providing BEL's Test facilities to startups

1. Test facility:

The list of test facilities which can be made available to private entities for testing of materials /sub-systems / equipment are as per the list (Annexure 'A') and the List of Nodal Officers to facilitate this activity is available in Annexure 'B'

2. Registration of private entities for use of test facilities:

A private entity already registered in company`s Approved Vendor Directory (AVD) can directly avail the test facilities as per the procedure. The credentials / track record of a new private entity shall submit the following documents:

Company Profile

Income Tax returns for last 3 years

Audited balance sheet / P&L Statement for last 3 years

PAN / TIN

The verification will be carried out by the company.

3.Procedure to avail the test facilities by a private entity:

A registered private entity shall submit the end use certificate, Non disclosure declaration form along with the Test facility request

The items / sub systems meant for defence applications will only be tested

The Nodal agency in respective BEL unit will study the technical specs of the test to be carried out

The slot availability along with quote will be communicated to private entity in case the available test facilities are capable of meeting the technical requirements

The private entity shall place a Service Order including acceptance of payment terms as per the quote and handover the job at the BEL Premises to carry out the test(s)

The test(s) will be carried out as per standard procedures by BEL Personnel only

The test reports along with the job will be handed over to the private entity

4. General terms & conditions:

The test services to private entities will be made available, only in case of spare capacity, over and above meeting the internal needs.

All transportation of job (including loading / unloading) from / to BEL`s testing premises is the responsibility of the private entity

The Hourly Rate indicated in the list, are for Budgetory purpose only. The rates may vary and the actual rates will be indicated in the quote, furnished by the respective units

The test charges are applicable for standard test procedures. In case of any additional tests, charges will be suitably modified depending on the job specifications

Applicable charges are exclusive of VAT / Service / other taxes

For cancellation of allotted slot, 25% of the testing charges will be forfeited

BEL will not be responsible for loss / damage to the equipment / instrument while carrying out the test(s)

If any damage occurs to equipment / property / personnel resulting from the testing of the job of private entity, the private entity should bear the expenses in repair / replacement of the facility. All necessary insurance coverage for the job shall be the responsibility of the private entity

A one-day national level event was organised by BEL in association with HAL and BEML, Bengaluru, on January 6, 2017, at the BEL Officers’ Club, Jalahalli, premises. The objective of the programme was to provide a platform for Defence PSUs and start-ups to showcase mutual capabilities, create awareness on avenues and opportunities and to facilitate interaction with each other to help identify areas of partnerships in manufacturing as well other areas like design, development and services.

The seminar stressed on the fact that Indian DPSUs, BEL and HAL, are increasingly looking at Indian startups for small, low-cost military grade innovations to minimise imports to achieve self-reliance and indigenisation. DPSUs need ideas that can become workable military devices at the earliest and startups in Defence Electronics or Aerospace must brave stringent quality and reliability standards and upgrade constantly to stay in the race. BEML brought out the point that opportunities exist for startups even in the form of reducing the weight of the trucks so that they can carry more equipment or help them to monitor the tyre condition better.

In addition to the startup companies from across India, the seminar was attended by officials from Department of IT, BT and S&T, Government of Karnataka, Incubation Cells, academicians, members of industry associations like NASSCOM, IESA, ELCINA and officials from BEL, HAL and BEML. Various policies of the Government of Karnataka for startups, registration procedure, areas of interest, funding by Government of Karnataka, the way forward, etc were highlighted in the presentations.

As many as 72 participants representing around 40 startup enterprises from across India and around 60 officials of BEL, HAL and BEML attended the programme. Some of startups who made presentations during the seminar include Tantragyan Solutions, Signal Chip Innovations (P) Ltd., Crion Technologies, Zumi Solutions (P) Ltd., Lekha Wireless Technologies, ProInn Consuyltancy, Open Invention Network, Asmaitha Wireless Technologies Ltd., Elseq Technologies of Bengaluru and Trinity Simulations (Pune) & Aarjay International and MEL Systems (Chennai).

The inaugural session was attended by Mr Gowtama M V, Chairman & Managing Director, BEL, Dr Ajit T Kalghatgi, Director (R&D), BEL, Mr Muralidhara R H, Director (Defence), BEML, and Mr A Selvaraj, GM (Indigenisation), HAL, Bengaluru. The above dignitaries addressed the participants and highlighted the efforts being put by Governments to promote startups in the Indian industrial ecosystem. As part of representation from the academia, two presentations by Prof Sampath Kumar, CEO & Member Secretary, Sona Business Incubation Center (SBIC), SONA College Of Technology, Salem, Tamil Nadu, and by Dr Lingaraju of MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, were made covering various support measures extended to startups, thrust areas, indigenisation opportunities for industries, networking and ecosystem building, outsourcing & vendor development, funding activities etc, with respect to startups by their respective institutions.

Integrity Pledge was also administered to all participants of the programme during the inaugural session.